Nitrogen and Phosphorus Excretion in Rabbits: a Calculation Basis for Commercial Farms

In several areas with a high density of animal production, manure is no longer exclusively considered as a fertiliser. In order to limit the production or a more environmental friendly use, efforts are done to reduce the mineral excretion. In such a context, both from governmental side as for the producer a reliable calculation of the on farm production is useful. Based on the input (feed) output (produced rabbits, dead rabbits) balance, the nitrogen and phosphorus farm excretion is calculated for different production systems. For a closed farm (breeding + fattening) the most convenient expression of mineral excretion is per female on average present in the farm. The excretion amounts 7.56 kg N and 4.72 kg P2O5 per doe/year in a commercial rabbit farm based on an average production/doe of 45 fatteners of 2.5 kg. In an exclusively fattening unit (between 0.8 and 2.5 kg weight and a feed conversion ratio of 3.25), the excretion amounts 88 g N and 60 g P2O5, per produced rabbit.